Player Bio

Ever since JP Smith emigrated to Australia with his family as a teenager, he’s wanted to represent the St.George Queensland Reds and his dream came true in 2018 after he made his Queensland debut in Round 2 against the Rebels.

JP also made his Queensland NRC debut in 2018, starting in the number one jersey in every match for the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City.

Smith’s family originally emigrated from Cape Town to Toowoomba in 2006, where he and twin brother Ruan spent a year studying at Darling Downs Rugby nursery Toowoomba Grammar School, before returning to their homeland to finish their schooling.

He stayed on in South Africa a further year to play for Western Province, before returning to Australia to play for GPS in Brisbane and chase a Super Rugby contract – earning a two-year stint with the Brumbies from 2014-2015 and the Stormers in 2016.

Smith spent the 2017 season weighing up his options and honing his coaching skills with the USC Barbarians on the Sunshine Coast, before taking up a six-month opportunity with the Jake White-coached Toyota Verblitz in Japan’s Top League.

2018

Made his Queensland debut in Round 2 against the Rebels in Melbourne. Also made his Queensland NRC debut for McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City.